The Demon Army that attacked Runbergzach was annihilated by a single Magic Cannon strike. The second shot either had faulty ammunition or failed to reach the Demon Army, only managing to destroy half the city.
“Why are we rushing back? Let’s take our time. Those Dwarf old men were lamenting the lack of women at the drinking party,” Priscilla said.
“It’s good that you’re being treated like a lady, Priscilla. You can return now if you wish. The only reason we’re rushing back is because we’re worried Yuma Bashar might be trying something with Queen Anneliese.”
“That’s part of it, but our biggest concern is the succubi who have infiltrated Ashtal. We don’t know when they’ll make their move, so we want to stop them… before they attack.”
I rented a carriage and shoved Lia into the back. Lia, the succubus, didn’t resist and was quietly bound. I even subtly altered her face and physique so no one would recognize her as the lord’s daughter. That, however, was also a problem.
“Who is that woman in the carriage? Why is she bound? Is it a hobby?”
It’s not a hobby. It’s a necessity. It seems I’ve been branded a kidnapper in Runbergzach. Some members of the White Lily Corps saw me too, and bad rumors spread quickly.
I should have explained immediately, but since I was presumed dead and the Dwarf King wouldn’t let me go easily, the explanation was postponed.
I was finally able to explain after we left Runbergzach and made camp for the night. I told the entire White Lily Corps the details and asked for their assistance with what’s to come.
While I felt sorry for isolating Lia, she is a succubus who deceives men, and she did put Runbergzach in a difficult position.
I just wanted to reach Denburg safely without too much “retaliation” against Lia, but somehow, a “How to Seduce Men” course led by Lia herself began, and she suddenly became popular.
I can forgive that. My heart is wider than the Pacific Ocean. After that, I even thought it would be more profitable to change my life with jobs like “Natural Makeup for Seducing Men,” “How to Get a Confession from a Herbivorous Man,” and “Increasing Your Femininity.”
This continued until the next morning, and I was forced to play the role of the representative male. We departed after noon, and our horses’ pace slowed considerably after a night of revelry.
“Why aren’t you bound?”
“It’s bad to hurt a girl’s skin! Besides, I can’t practice if I’m tied up.”
“Practice what! Don’t forget you’re a prisoner!”
“I haven’t forgotten! I’m about to start the ‘How to Tie Up Men’ lecture.”
“Are you an idiot! You’re getting bold now that I’m being lenient!” Lia wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me. I immediately twisted her arm and climbed onto the cargo bed.
“From now on, I’ll show you how to tie up men! Be a little more obedient. Otherwise, you’ll just get injured…” Members of the White Lily Corps had already climbed aboard. What happened to your own horses?
I couldn’t punch them or use Godspeed in the cramped space to injure them, and despite my desperate resistance, the enormous Rose tackled me and tied me up.
Let me say it one more time: “Idiot!” Priscilla is here. There’s no way she’ll allow this. Priscilla is always on my side.
“I’ll join in later, so make some space.”
…Lia’s lectures continued all the way to the city of Denburg. The graduates of her course immediately put their new skills into practice, and twenty little devils descended upon Denburg, with one even ascending to the status of a fallen angel.
“Well done.”
Denburg had transformed, but Queen Anneliese’s smile remained unchanged. The city was overflowing with knights from Harmonia, Rothfar, and Ashtal, with some even camping outside the city walls.
“The Demon Army that attacked Runbergzach has been annihilated. The remnants of the Demon Army in the Royal Capital Klinshberbach are likely few in number. If we’re going to attack, now is the time. Is the attack preparation complete? Where will the brigades be deployed?”
Queen Anneliese slumped down with a dark expression. Did I say something wrong? If we attack the Royal Capital with Ashtal as the main force, we can reclaim it.
There’s no need to be so gloomy. I want to see An-chan smile. Perhaps she wants me to make her laugh? Mikael Sin is ready to give his all to make Her Majesty laugh. I started searching the desk for anything I could use for a skit.
“Mikael, do you understand the current situation…?”
What is this black tube? Will “chonmage” – a topknot – only be understood by Japanese people?
“Knights from various nations have gathered, and it’s become unmanageable. Rothfar isn’t moving, Ashtal is focused on attacking without considering supply lines, and Harmonia is transporting materials from various locations. Two thousand mercenaries from the Hasuhanto Trading Company are scheduled to arrive tomorrow. I don’t know what to do anymore…”
Want to try the “chonmage”? I might not be able to command, but I can certainly make people laugh. But the Hasuhanto Trading Company providing mercenaries… are they trying to gain favor with Harmonia?
Where people gather, there is chaos and trash. Cleaning up the chaos is a white-collar job, and collecting the trash is a blue-collar job for us. The current trash is succubi; if we don’t get rid of them, the entire army will collapse.
“Your Majesty, I will speak with Ashtal. For Rothfar, let’s promote Fleet Helm to knight and have him negotiate.”
“Fleet Helm is a butler. Promoting him to knight…”
His abilities are more than sufficient. That old man has the skill to work even in the White Lily Corps. If he’s capable as a butler, he’ll handle negotiations with ease.
“Please handle this at Your Majesty’s discretion. He is a capable man. I’ll leave Ashtal to you. I am a baron, you know.”
Aren’t you forgetting? I’m cool, skilled, and a baron of the Ashtal Empire. I’m the captain of the White Lily Corps and the brigade leader of Harmonia. I have so many titles I can’t fit them on a business card. I should make my business cards postcard-sized.
“Understood. Fleet Helm will be promoted to knight and will negotiate with Rothfar. Please, truly, handle Ashtal.”
She seems truly distressed. Her face is etched with sadness. A decisive battle awaits, can Your Majesty endure it? But I’ll always be by your side. I’ll leave the night bed empty for you.
While negotiations with Ashtal are pending, we need to deal with the infiltrated succubi. This is where Lia comes in, but I don’t trust her enough to handle it alone. We’ll deploy the White Lily Corps and subdue them one by one.
I left the mansion where the Queen was staying and received a report from Iris before reuniting with the White Lily Corps. It was a very unpleasant report.
“Failed! What do you mean, failed!?”
I don’t think I’ve ever yelled at Iris. She’s always competent and exceeds my expectations. However, this failure is fatal.
“I am truly sorry, my good man. I tried to persuade him many times, but he wouldn’t listen…”
I had forgotten, or rather, wanted to forget, about the engagement to Count Ernst. It was an engagement based on a misunderstanding, a gift, and I had asked Iris to handle it.
After all, I should send Yuma Bashar’s head. I’ll settle for that. I wouldn’t mind losing that head at all. But, although I hate to admit it, Yuma is a capable man. It would be painful for Queen Anneliese to lose him now.
I’ll leave Count Ernst’s persuasion to Iris, but I need to bridge the gap with the Ashtal Empire. Before that, I need to issue instructions for the White Lily Corps and Lia to suppress the succubi. And before that, I need to go to the restroom.
“…My good man. Although I failed my mission…”
Before that, before that, I need to make time with Iris. It would be a waste for such a beautiful woman’s body to decay. I have a mountain of work waiting for me back in Denburg. Except for Iris, I wish someone else could handle everything else. Honestly, I’m too embarrassed to do it in the restroom.
“Iris, I’ll leave Count Ernst to you.”
Without waiting for a reply, I used Godspeed to head towards the brigade’s encampment. We are the regular army of Harmonia, but we’re sleeping outside the city. Of course, I wouldn’t let my brigade do that. I had already asked Richarda, who specializes in Earth Magic, to build enough houses for the brigade to live in, without permission.
“You’re late returning… and you smell nice.”
Mind’s Eye, Godspeed Mode Four.
I could perceive every attack as if it were right before my eyes. I dodged them all, and the attack stopped before a bead of sweat could form on my brow. Of course, the walls were battered, and the city walls probably had holes in them too. Sorry for increasing Richarda’s workload.
“While you were enjoying yourself, I was working. There were four of them; I’ve locked them in the dungeon.”
Priscilla, who was drinking and left the anger directed at me to the White Lily Corps. She’s competent and has a great sense of smell. She’s the best woman. Yes, the best woman.
“There were four of them!? Are they prostitutes?”
“Yes. Rufina is downstairs reading their memories now. She seemed a little unwell, though.”
Perhaps Rufina’s unwellness isn’t just related to Lia, but also a general wavelength issue with all succubi. Still, I need Rufina to do her best. Her memory-reading ability is necessary to find out what the succubi knew and what they conveyed.
“Welcome back, my dear…”
I was flanked from behind, something that hadn’t happened in a while. I turned my head and saw a naked Lia embracing me. I wanted to turn my head a little further, turn it further back, like an owl.
“Gah!”
“Ugh!”
Alana’s Zantou was long enough to easily pierce through two people. I understood the feeling of the “brothers of dango” from an old story. I gave up on turning my neck a full rotation and looked slightly down in front of me. Alana looked up at me and said with a smile, “No public displays of affection.” I replied, “That’s right,” while blood flowed from my mouth.
“Let the idlers be and get to work. The succubi who infiltrated Ashtal and Rothfar are commanders’ mistresses. If they’re discovered, it’ll be a problem, and the unit will be annihilated if we don’t kill them. We’ll finish it all tonight, so get some sleep while you can. Sophia, heal Lia.”
Why can’t she say, “Heal both of us!”? At least, I wish she’d say, “Mikael, please heal me,” with a cute smile. I’d be healed instantly.
“Let’s sleep! You’re with me!”
Despite holding my stabbed stomach, Priscilla grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and threw me into the bedroom. Is that what sleeping together means…?
